Islam in the Public School Classroom: The Teacher as Adult Learner
Date
2015-09-25
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Abstract
This narrative research study explores the adult learning journey of teachers who teach about Islam in Alberta public schools. It tells stories of their experiences that are informed by personal convictions and sociocultural surroundings. The study focuses intentionally on how perceptions of Islam held by teachers change, if at all. It also directs attention to the impact of teaching and learning about Islam on teacher religious and nonreligious identities.
Four teacher participants, from different schools, were invited to share their stories and experiences teaching about Islam in the World Religions course. Narrative inquiry proved to be an invaluable guide in discovering and interpreting teacher learning journeys. Participants brought forth various understandings of Islam and diverse religious and nonreligious identities to the classroom space. Teaching about Islam resulted in strengthened religious and nonreligious convictions, and influenced in an important way, the nature of changes in perceptions of Islam teacher participants developed.
While the field of adult education is increasingly attending to the multidimensional ways that adults learn and change, the contribution of one’s religious convictions in interreligious learning has not been extensively explored. As well, this study suggests that teachers and students actively engage with diverse religious and nonreligious outlooks and lived experiences in order to support deep learning. Thus, while it explores teacher experiences and changes, this dissertation also aims to articulate a way forward in curriculum and teacher development. As we increasingly encounter diverse and fellow human beings, this study highlights the great importance of learning about each other, from each other.
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Education--Adult and Continuing
Citation
Nanji, AF. (2015). Islam in the Public School Classroom: The Teacher as Adult Learner (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/26678